Thursday, November 13, 2008

Caps Sign John Carlson

Per the team:

The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman John Carlson, one of their two first-round choices (27th overall) in the 2008 Entry Draft, to a three-year entry-level contract, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today. In keeping with club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Carlson, 18, is a 6’3”, 210-pound native of Natick, Mass., who is in his first season with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In 12 games this season he has recorded 12 points (2 goals, 10 assists) and is +11. Carlson played two preseason games with the Capitals this season and recorded 2 assists.

Carlson played the last two seasons with the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League (USHL), where he registered 43 points (12 goals, 31 assists) and led all defenseman on the team in scoring during the 2007-08 regular season. He was also named to the 2008 USHL All-Star East Division team where he recorded an assist.

A player has to be 20 years old by December 31st of a given season to be eligible to play in the A, unless (a) he's European and his rights are not owned by a Canadian junior team or (b) he played for an NCAA team for one season before turning pro. Neither of which apply to Carlson.

Godfrey was born in January of 1988, so he turned 20 by last season's playoffs.

Per the team, Carlson will be eligible for the AHL once his team is eliminated from the OHL playoffs.

Pepper - I think the rule you're referencing refers to the inability of teams to send players like Carlson (or Alzner last year, etc.) to the AHL for the season, but there's a wrinkle in the rule if the kid has played a full season in juniors.

Once a player's season is complete with their junior (CHL) team, they can play for Hershey/AHL regardless of their age and regardless of whether or not they have a signed contract with the NHL team. And they can play for the AHL affiliate in the playoffs and the next season still go back and play for their CHL team. (see as examples Jeff Schultz, Mike Richards, Jeff Carter)

This season, Carlson is ineligible to play for Hershey before the London Knights' season is over. He could only be called to the Caps in an emergency situation (very unlikely, but see Edmonton 2 seasons ago and Columbus last season for examples.)

He can be assigned to the Bears or Caps roster after his season is complete.

Carlson was drafted as an USHL player that had signed to play for the London Knights in the OHL this season. I assume this means the CHL (OHL/WHL/Q) rules apply as it relates to prospects, not NCAA/USHL/Europe. If true, when he is 19yo, he will be ineligible to play for Hershey/AHL, but eligible to play for the Caps/NHL team. He had already signed with London by the time he was drafted but had not played for them. Perhaps, there's a technicality since he had not been on the roster and he would not be considered a CHL player for draft purposes??? In that case, if the CHL rules don't apply, he could play in the AHL next season. I don't recall a case like this (have to think about it) where a player is drafted before playing in the CHL as he had been retaining his college eligibility but then changed to the CHL (this is different than Wheeler's NCAA situation and Phoenix, for example.)

Ok, I gave this more thought and came up with an example, happens to be within the Caps system. Michal Neuvirth. He was drafted as a European player and then played in the CHL, but the CHL rule didn't apply and he was eligible to play in the AHL as a 19yo.

He signed his contract with the London Knights before the draft, but he had not played in the CHL. If that interpretation is correct, he is eligible to play for Hershey next season.